View on the River Roseau, Dominica 1770 - 1780

Agostino Brunias, who died in 1796, painted this view on the River Roseau in Dominica with oil on canvas. It offers us a window into the artist's social context in the West Indies, and the politics of imagery within that context. In the late 18th century, Brunias worked for wealthy patrons, producing idealized scenes of colonial life. This image creates meaning through visual codes. The clear depiction of a river scene, with a harmonious grouping of mixed-race inhabitants, presents a vision of the island as a site of successful colonial integration. However, the reality was of course far more complex. The artist's portrayal of harmonious social relations can be contrasted with other sources, such as plantation records, legal documents, and personal letters, which reveal the tensions and inequalities inherent in the colonial system. Understanding the meaning of this work requires that we appreciate the social conditions that shape artistic production. Art history helps us to look at how institutions and economics affected the creation and reception of art at this time.